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Announcements
President’s update – Ann Barefield
Board Agenda:
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Wednesday, May 7,
2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the UUFMC Fellowship Building. If committee chairs
have items for the agenda, please share them with your Board Liaison
by Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Board members, please send the
agenda items to the president, Ann Barefield, by Thursday, May 1, 2008
so she can get them to Bill Coburn in time for the agenda to be printed
in the weekly announcements.
Memorial Concert: The members and friends of the UUFMC are invited
to attend the Memorial Concert for Bob Barefield at 3:00 p.m. on May
25, 2008. There will be a reception following the concert sponsored by
the Board of Trustees. Attached to the weekly announcements there is
a brochure about the concert.
What Are We Passionate About?
We have worked long and hard to get our new home and we will be
moving into it soon. We have given our time, our money, our sweat,
and sometimes our tears to get this new home. Some have said we
want a place to meet anytime we need to meet. Many have said we want
to be a voice for liberal religion in this community. In our mission, we
have said we want to provide a community that supports ourselves and
others in life’s journey and we want to foster universal social justice
and responsibility. In our vision, we have said we want to be a growing
and caring religious community devoted to freedom of thought, speech
and spiritual beliefs. In our values statement, we have said we revere
the interdependent web of all existence and value:
o Diversity and the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
o The search for truth and meaning through critical thinking and
the encouragement of spiritual growth.
o The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
within our congregation and in society at large
o The goal of a world with peace, liberty and justice for all with
equity and compassion in human relations.
Now that we have our building, our new home, our place to meet
anytime we want to meet, our place to invite members of our
community to meet with us, how are we going to use it to accomplish
the things we have said we want to be? Now is our chance to walk our
talk as we never have before. What are we, the members and friends of
the UUFMC, truly passionate about?
Passion is motivating. It is more motivating than money. Passion
energises and transforms you. You are focussed. You are really in tune
with yourself. When you’re passionate about something, you produce
better results. You seem to always have enough time, energy and
money for those things about which you are passionate. Passion
manifests itself as enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can be a contagious
thing to the people around you. What are we, the members and friends
of the UUFMC, truly passionate about?
Are we truly passionate about fulfilling our mission, vision, and values?
If so, how do we plan to do it? We have the building, we have the
people, and we have the potential to make a difference in this
community. Do we have the passion? I challenge each one of us to
consider what we are passionate about and to become active in this
fellowship and help ensure that everything we do helps us fulfill our
mission, vision and values. Together, we can make it happen!
BOARD POLICIES
It is the job of the Board of Trustees to develop policies that will help
the fellowship run smoothly. We have recently finalized several policies
and we would appreciate it if our members and friends would become
familiar with them. If you have questions or concerns about any of the
policies, please feel free to send your questions or concerns in writing
to the president, Ann Barefield, and your comments will be shared and
discussed at the next scheduled Board meeting. The policies that are
being presented this month are as follows: Fifth Sunday Policy,
Gift/Memorial Policy and Sexual Harassment Policy.
FIFTH SUNDAY POLICY
1) The Social Justice Committee shall select by consensus a worthy
charitable cause to donate the fifth Sunday cash and designated
checks to. All undesignated checks shall be treated as a regular
offering.
2) A written announcement shall be included in the UNI-VERSE and the
weekly bulletin which shall inform congregation members and friends
that all cash and designated checks collected on the Fifth Sunday will
be donated to the selected Charity. The content of this notice shall be
the responsibility of the social justice chair. A brief description of the
selected charity shall be included.
3) The service leader shall make an announcement before the Fifth
Sunday collection which shall include the information which had been
included in the UNI-VERSE and the weekly bulletin.
4) All cash and designated checks collected on the Fifth Sunday shall
go into the general fund and the Fellowship treasurer shall cut a check
equal to the amount of this collection which shall be sent to the
selected charity. The Social Justice Chair shall compose a cover letter
to be sent along with this check. This cover letter will be submitted to
the board for approval.
GIFT/MEMORIAL POLICY
The UFMC encourages the solicitation and acceptance of gifts to the
Fellowship for purposes that further the Fellowship’s mission. This Gift
Policy applies to all gifts offered to the Fellowship (other than payments
on pledges to the annual operating budget).
The Fellowship may accept both gifts that are unrestricted and gifts
that are designated for specific purposes (“restricted gifts”), provided
that such gifts are consistent with the Fellowship’s mission, purposes
and priorities. All decisions on the acceptance of gifts, both
unrestricted and restricted, will be made by the Gift/Memorial
Committee inn consultation with the Treasurer, and others as deemed
appropriate. All unrestricted gifts, once accepted, immediately become
the property of the Fellowship and are given with the understanding
that the gifts have been donated with no restrictions, including
restrictions on use, sale or disposal. Restricted gifts, once accepted,
will be managed in accordance with the agreed restrictions unless and
until the restrictions are modified or removed.
In deciding whether to accept a gift, the Gift/Memorial Committee will
consider any potential costs associated (including maintenance,
insurance, transport, appraisal, potential liability, costs of disposition
or sale, etc.). The Fellowship may seek the advice of legal counsel in
matters relating to acceptance of gifts when appropriate (such as
closely held stock, restricted stock, transactions governed by
contracts, potential conflicts of interest, etc.)
Marketable Securities:
As a general rule, gifts of marketable securities will be converted to
cash and transferred to the Fellowship’s Treasurer for investment as
quickly as possible.
Personal Property:
In deciding whether to accept gifts of tangible personal property, the
Gift/Memorial Committee will consider the following criteria:
o Is the property consistent with the Society’s mission?
o Are there carrying costs associated with the property?
o Is the property marketable?
o Are there any undue restrictions on the use or sale of the
property?
Real Estate:
In deciding whether to accept gifts of real estate, the Gift/Memorial
Committee may wish to consider the following criteria:
o Is the property useful for the purposes of the Fellowship?
o Are there carrying costs (which may include insurance, property
taxes, mortgages, notes, etc.) associated with the property?
o Is the property marketable?
o Are there any restrictions, reservations, easements or other
limitations associated with the property?
In addition, prior to acceptance of a gift of real estate, the Fellowship
may require an environmental review. When appropriate, a title binder
may also be obtained by the Fellowship prior to the acceptance of the
real property gift.
All gifts will be promptly acknowledged in writing on behalf of the
Fellowship by the Chairperson of the Gift/Memorial Committee and or
the Minister. The Treasurer of the Fellowship will be responsible for
providing donors with receipts sufficient to satisfy IRS requirements.
The receipt may include a description of the property, but each donor
will be expected to rely upon his or her own professional counsel
concerning valuation, tax and estate planning implications of gifts and
representatives of the Fellowship should refrain from advising donors
on these issues.
Exceptions to this Gift Acceptance Policy should be rare and require
the approval of the Gigt/Memorial Committee, acting in consultation
with the Board of Trustees and others as deemed appropriate.
Gift/Memorial Policy changes are made by the Gift/Memorial Committee
submitting recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Purpose Statement:
We believe that:
• The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Marion County (UUFMC)
should be a safe and welcoming environment that respects the human
dignity of all who attend.
• All who attend or are employed by UUFMC have a right to
participate in an environment that is free of discrimination, which
includes freedom from sexual harassment.
• The adoption of a sexual harassment policy provides a means for
dealing with harassment experienced within the church community.
• The best resolution of any situation will both stop the unwanted
behavior and
allow all parties to still feel comfortable within the church.
• We understand that harassment is not always intentional, but may
in fact arise through miscommunication or lack of awareness.
Regardless, we believe this is a serious issue that our congregation can
best face by adoption of the following policies.
Underlying Principles and Assumptions
• Sexual harassment is unacceptable within the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Marion County.
• Sexual harassment is not the fault of the victim.
• People who have been harassed need support, empowerment, and
a structure within which to respond effectively and safely.
Definitions of Sexual Harassment:
• Sexual harassment includes unsolicited and unwelcome conduct
that has sexual overtones. This includes but is not limited to:
o physical conduct: such as touching, pinching, brushing against
another’s body, impeding or blocking movement, assault, coercing
sexual intercourse.
o verbal conduct: such as sexually suggestive or obscene
comments, threats, slurs, epithets, jokes about gender-specific traits,
sexual propositions.
o written conduct: such as sexually suggestive or obscene letters,
notes, invitations.
o visual conduct: such as gesturing, displaying sexually suggestive
objects or pictures, cartoons, posters or magazines.
• Sexual harassment must be understood as an exploitation of the
various relationships that exist within the church community (for
example: minister/congregant, adult/child, amongst peers) rather than
as an exclusively
sexual issue.
• Sexual harassment has both males and females as its victims and
perpetrators. All who attend or are employed by UUFMC should be free
from harassment by members of the opposite sex or of the same sex.
• Procedures for addressing all incidents (or suspected incidents)
of sexual harassment are outlined in the Procedures Manual.
Gift / Memorial Committee
Our Gift/Memorial Policy has been written according to guidelines
recommended by the Unitarian Universalist Association. In keeping
with this newly approved policy, we would like to make our members
and friends aware of some gift-giving opportunities to enhance our new
UU home. Some considerations are the following: sanctuary
furnishings; landscaping and other exterior decorating such as
benches, sculpture, plantings; kitchen fixtures and furnishings; works
of art throughout the building; office equipment; music fund. If you
have questions or are interested in contributing towards the purchase
of any of our needed items, please contact the committee co-chairs
who will then also involve the appropriate committees, i.e. landscape,
kitchen, music, etc.
Mary Ann Donato 751-7543 Fran Marciano 430-3109
Forum
The "Forum" which meets at 9:00 prior to the Sunday service is always
looking for good ideas for presentations. The purpose of the Forum is
to provide our members and friends with information on a particular
topic. More importantly it is to provide an opportunity for us to interact
with each other and thereby broaden our knowledge of a whole host of
topics. If you have a particular slant on something that you would be
willing to present please let Jim or Millie Mitchell or me, Jim McIntosh,
know about it. It you know of someone with such a topic that would be
able to present, let us know that to. If you have a topic that you think
would be important to discuss don't keep it to yourself. We’re looking
forward to hearing from you.
Jim McIntosh
Pledge and Donation Reports – Jim McIntosh
Members and Friends:
On Sunday the Fellowship will be providing fiscal year ending (Apr 1 to
Mar 30) pledge and donation reports this Sunday, April 27th . The
actual data will include business through April 16. With the exception
of a few new pledges that were received after the report was printed, all
fiscal 08 - 09 pledges are shown. An explanation of the report format
will be included. Please take a moment to pick up you report and check
it against your records for accuracy.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the
material.
Jim McIntosh, Treasurer UUFMC
Planning Ahead
Many Unitarian Universalist groups have an annual Water
Service/Ceremony. This can be a meaningful experience for members,
friends, guests and visitors. We are planning a Water Service at UUFMC
in October. Your participation is welcome and necessary if our service
is to be meaningful. All you need, to do, is to collect a small amount of
water from a stream, pond, lake, river, fountain, or other place that has
meaning to you. Since many of us travel in the summer it is a good
time to collect the water. Keep the water until we have the service; you
will be reminded to bring your water. Remember collect water from
your travels this summer and hold on to it until we announce the Water
Service this fall. Thank-you and have a great summer!
Memorial Concert & Reception
Members and friends are invited to the Memorial Concert for Bob
Barefield, May 25th 3:00PM with a reception immediately following the
concert. If you would like to assist with the reception please look for
the sign up board. Questions contact Allie Gore 861-4564 or
indigo8062@earthink.net.
Invitation to Speak
Dear Members and Friends,
The Sunday Service/Program Committee would like to invite you to
speak to our congregation during an open Sunday in June or July.
Look for the sign up board and place your name on the date you would
like to speak. Within one week of signing the board please email or
snail mail your topic and provide a synopsis of your presentation to any
member of the committee Bob Zannelli, Rona Gold, Mary Ann Donato,
Phil Lindsley, Ruth Deussen and Allie Gore.
Please be aware we have no way of knowing the response we will
receive to this invitation. Depending upon the members and friends
interested in speaking, to our congregation, and the scheduled
speakers from outside our Fellowship, we are unable to guarantee your
specific date request.
The following guidelines are provided to help you decide if your topic is
appropriate for the main Sunday service or if it is a Forum topic. The
committee will make the final determination.
Presentations will adhere to our covenant to affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in
our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a
part.
The Sunday service/Program Committee appreciates members and
friends commitment to honor diversity, demonstrate inclusiveness and
respect for each other and other religious beliefs in their presentations.
Thank-you!
UUFMC Directory Update – Barbara Schuster
Dear Members and Friends,
In order to keep the directory up to date, please take the time to e-mail
me with any changes in your Directory information. If you prefer, please
bring a written copy of your Directory information to the fellowship on
Sunday, or call me at 353-390-3822.
Thank you, Barbara
Bob Zannelli invites all our Members and Friends to join him for
Evolving Humanism: An Agenda for the Future
When: Friday evening, May 9 – through Sunday, May11, 2008
Where: Sarasota Hotel and Marina
This will be your opportunity to connect with other Humanists groups
throughout Florida to make friendships, exchange ideas, talk about
issues and make a difference.
Humanists of Florida (HFA) will be unveiling plans for a proposed
Florida think tank project named Evolving the Future: Toward a Science
of Cultural Change. The think tank will be dedicated to applying
evolutionary theory to how we think about and analyze education, law,
business, political science, economics, management, anthropology and
the social sciences
Cruise News
Your Building Fund needs YOU to sign up for our 10 day January 18th
relaxing, enjoyable cruise to intriguing sights to Aruba, Curacao, the
Panama Canal, Costa Rica and a private insland. Our first cruise
brought in $2,450 to the building fund and the second one brought in
$2,850. Let's exceed that amount - your help is critical. Make your
reservation now to be certain you can get the type of cabin you want
because Panama cruises are very popular. Call Anita Noble at AAA,
352-753-2500-Ex. 2259 - your reservation can be handled by phone.
Talk to Pete Jarmer or Rona Gold for more details.
Cares & Concern – Marti Bassette
eotwin@aol.com dolson@aol.com
From Don and Eleanor Olson
Joy to the world.
Hi everyone,
Don and I became great grandparents this morning (April 25) at 4:40
am. Our granddaughter, Melissa, gave birth by C-section to Elias
Carlisle. Both Mom and big boy (8 lbs. 5 oz) are doing well and should
be going home in a couple of days. We're hoping to see them before
we leave Little Rock.
Life is good!
Eleanor
PAUL KORPELA HAD A TUMOR REMOVED WHICH WAS BENIGN.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS. – From Dot O’Hara
I touched Base with Hydle and Ruth Papin. They manage driving OK;
they just don't always have "the go" required to get to Sunday services.
– From Karl D. Scheffer
The Care and Concerns co-chairs need to know about anyone that is ill,
home bound, or hospitalized. For anyone in the Top of the World area
notify Jeanne Collins, 352-291-2925. In The Villages Marti Bassette, 259-
4503.
May - UU & YOU! Carolyn Denison
UU and You Social Evenings will be held at 6 PM Wednesday, May 21st ,
and Thursday, May 22nd in host's homes.
This is an opportunity to get together with church friends and members
to socialize. A sheet will be out to sign up for Wednesday OR Thursday.
You will be notified where your gathering will be held; directions will be
provided. Your responsibility is to bring sandwiches, veggies/salad or
dessert to share; hosts furnish beverages.
Our goals are to keep the groups the size the hostess/host can
accommodate, to keep the groups approximately the same size, and to
have one each month in the Villages and one evening north or west of
there.
If you signed up to attend but find you are unable to keep this
commitment please contact Carolyn, 307-4682, so the necessary
changes can be made. Thanks so much!
Signup sheets will be on the table every Sunday until May 18th .
Separate Tables – Jeanne Collins
We will lunch together on Thursday, May 15th at Olive Garden in Ocala
on Highway 200
3363 SW College Rd
Ocala, FL 34474
352-854-0900 | Website
Call Jeanne Collins for details 352-291-2925.
Please be aware that reservations are made for Separate Tables at a
busy time of day for the restaurants. If you have signed up to attend
but cannot make the luncheon please contact the host or hostess so
the restaurant can be notified. Thank-you for your thoughtfulness.
Separate Tables is a social event where the men and women have lunch
at separate tables. Each group enjoys their own discussions about
topics that are important and/or interesting to them. Separate Tables
was created to draw the Fellowship members together by allowing them
the opportunity to get to know one another better.
Signup sheets will be on the table every Sunday until May 11th.
Singles Club
Book Club
Membership Committee
Are you new to Unitarian Universalism? Do you want to learn more?
Classes will be forming to discuss the history, principles, and traditions
of Unitarian Universalism.
Contact Allie Gore at 861-4564 or Andrea Coburn at 751-6673 is you are
interested in participating.
Social Justice Committee - Bob Zannelli
Fifth Sunday
The Social Justice Committee has selected the Interfaith Emergency
Services as the recipient of the fifth Sunday collection in June. We all
know the need is great in our local area , foreclosures are at a record
high and the building trades and local manufactories are laying off
large numbers of workers. Please give as generously as you can.
In addition, the Social Justice Committee welcomes suggestions as to
worthy recipients for future fifth Sunday collections. Contact any social
justice committee member to make your views known. The members
are: Bob Zannelli, Pete and Ray Jarmer, Andrea Coburn, Mary Ann and
Mike Donato, John Deckman, Rona Gold, Carolyn Denison, and Ann
Barefield.
Christmas Family.
The Social Justice committee, represented by Ann Barefield, continues
to keep in touch with our "adopted" family and will report back to the
social justice committee if they express a need for additional help.
Rebate your rebate to the needy.
Many congregations in the UU are asking members to donate a portion
of the stimulus rebate to a worthy cause. The need is great at the
Interfaith Emergency Services. Donations can be sent to
Interfaith Emergency Services, Inc.
435 NW 2nd Street • Ocala, FL 34475
Music Committee
The choir will be singing just one more time until fall So the
committee, throughout the summer, will be looking for individuals who
would like to sing or play a solo, duet, trio or quartet. Please call Ruth
Prentice @ 307-6620 if you have music or can learn something we
already have.
Chalice Lighters
Our Sunday service chalice lighting and extinguishing is another
opportunity to share something which, like our principles, sets a
positive tone of acceptance, respect and an appreciation for diversity.
The program committee extends an invitation to members and friends
to participate in this part of the service. Sign up for a specific Sunday
date. Your responsibility is to light the chalice and present a reading
and extinguish the chalice and help close the service with another
reading. Please see the Chalice Lighters signup sheet, on the info table,
any Sunday. Thank you.
Coffee Committee
Message to all Coffee Committee volunteers, if the date you’re
scheduled is not convenient for you, please switch with another
member. Thank you for all you do. You're terrific!
We're down to 7 members for one reason or another. If you know
anyone who might be interested in joining our esteem team, let me or
Carole know. Fran 430-3109
Carole Clarke
Carole Clarke grew up in Massachusetts and spent her adult life in
Washington, DC. Her son and daughter-in-law live in Seattle. She has
been widowed for 11 years.
Living in Washington, DC from 1967 was an exciting experience. She
worked on many city political campaigns, starting with the first Home
Rule government. Imagine the excitement in the city in 1974 - the first
opportunity that Washington citizens had to elect their own government
officials. (Of course, there still is no voting representation in Congress.)
Carole was a teacher in the DC Public School system where she taught
hospitalized and homebound children. This work provided many varied
experiences. At various times she taught in every section of the city.
She taught children with minor problems such as a broken leg to those
with more devastating illnesses. She taught in an embassy and in
housing projects. Through it all she had the opportunity to work
intimately with the children and their families. It was a great career.
After retirement Carole spent 2 years in Guatemala with the Peace
Corps. She lived in the mountain area in a Mayan and Latino
Community. Her main assignment here was to work with the teachers
in local schools to develop sanitation projects.
She moved to the Villages in 2005 where she discovered Unitarian
Universalism. It has opened up a new world full of wonderful people
and ideas to her.
Carole is coordinating a program where English is taught to adult
immigrants in the community. Classes meet for 1 ½ hours on the
weekday evenings and also during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
The classes are held on alternating days in Wildwood and Leesburg.
Jean Collins, Rona Gold, Karen Hoch, Diane Jacobsen, Mary Ann and
Mike Donato, Louise and Mark Colussi, and Oscar and Barbara Nair,
fellow Unitarians, are volunteering with the program. There is always a
need for more volunteer teachers or child care helpers. Call Carole to
see how you can be involved in the program.
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund May, 2008
Recently I acquired a little book which explains how and why we
Unitarian Universalists function as we do: The Cambridge Platform,
edited by Peter Hughes. Even though we are different in theology from
other churches we share a common tradition of polity that originated
with The Cambridge Platform. The 1648 signers of this document
established how churches defined membership, chose leaders, came to
decisions, handled dissent, and acted together despite disagreements.
The Platform set forth a non-hierarchical congregational polity which
meant churches would be independent both of outside authority and of
each other. It explained and justified how congregational churches
work. Both Unitarians and Universalists evolved from early New
England churches governed by the Platform.
The framers of the Cambridge Platform continuously referenced the
authority of the Bible which makes it a foundational document for our
UU polity, and other faiths molded by Puritanism. The Puritans had
tried to reform the Church of England in the direction of a more
personally experienced spiritual life. Their experience of being
persecuted and punished persuaded them something had gone awry
and led them to look in the Old and New Testaments where very
different patterns of authority were to be found. The New England
Puritans believed all religious authority to be in the members of each
congregation. The Platform, based on the biblical second
commandment, declared that the substance of the free church is the
spirit of neighborly love.
The authors of the Platform did not see themselves as “separatists”
and insisted the autonomy of free churches did not imply isolation from
other free churches. Churches were to be concerned about other’s
welfare. In the 1600s churches founded by the Puritans engaged in
pulpit exchanges. Lay members sometimes attended services in their
own churches and then, if visiting friends, went to another in the
afternoon. These early Puritan churches sent letters of
recommendation to a congregation in a town to which one of their
members was moving; sometimes they helped with money and/or
officers if need arose; and they assisted in starting new churches.
Even though the framers held Scripture in great reverence they believed
not all that is necessary in the free church is indicated by the bible. In
addition there is a very strong statement on the importance of covenant
made by each member of a church to walk together with other
members, in love. There were some drawbacks in that the framers
assumed a tiered level or privilege and authority in churches was a
natural thing. There is so much more to be learned about our history in
the Cambridge Platform.
Perhaps I have tweaked an interest in learning more about the
Cambridge Platform. The book can be purchased through Skinner
House at www.UUA.org/skinner for those of you who would like to learn
more. I always look forward to hearing from you at jlund@uua.org or
813-931-9727.
President’s update – Ann Barefield
Board Agenda:
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Wednesday, May 7,
2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the UUFMC Fellowship Building. If committee chairs
have items for the agenda, please share them with your Board Liaison
by Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Board members, please send the
agenda items to the president, Ann Barefield, by Thursday, May 1, 2008
so she can get them to Bill Coburn in time for the agenda to be printed
in the weekly announcements.
Memorial Concert: The members and friends of the UUFMC are invited
to attend the Memorial Concert for Bob Barefield at 3:00 p.m. on May
25, 2008. There will be a reception following the concert sponsored by
the Board of Trustees. Attached to the weekly announcements there is
a brochure about the concert.
What Are We Passionate About?
We have worked long and hard to get our new home and we will be
moving into it soon. We have given our time, our money, our sweat,
and sometimes our tears to get this new home. Some have said we
want a place to meet anytime we need to meet. Many have said we want
to be a voice for liberal religion in this community. In our mission, we
have said we want to provide a community that supports ourselves and
others in life’s journey and we want to foster universal social justice
and responsibility. In our vision, we have said we want to be a growing
and caring religious community devoted to freedom of thought, speech
and spiritual beliefs. In our values statement, we have said we revere
the interdependent web of all existence and value:
o Diversity and the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
o The search for truth and meaning through critical thinking and
the encouragement of spiritual growth.
o The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
within our congregation and in society at large
o The goal of a world with peace, liberty and justice for all with
equity and compassion in human relations.
Now that we have our building, our new home, our place to meet
anytime we want to meet, our place to invite members of our
community to meet with us, how are we going to use it to accomplish
the things we have said we want to be? Now is our chance to walk our
talk as we never have before. What are we, the members and friends of
the UUFMC, truly passionate about?
Passion is motivating. It is more motivating than money. Passion
energises and transforms you. You are focussed. You are really in tune
with yourself. When you’re passionate about something, you produce
better results. You seem to always have enough time, energy and
money for those things about which you are passionate. Passion
manifests itself as enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can be a contagious
thing to the people around you. What are we, the members and friends
of the UUFMC, truly passionate about?
Are we truly passionate about fulfilling our mission, vision, and values?
If so, how do we plan to do it? We have the building, we have the
people, and we have the potential to make a difference in this
community. Do we have the passion? I challenge each one of us to
consider what we are passionate about and to become active in this
fellowship and help ensure that everything we do helps us fulfill our
mission, vision and values. Together, we can make it happen!
BOARD POLICIES
It is the job of the Board of Trustees to develop policies that will help
the fellowship run smoothly. We have recently finalized several policies
and we would appreciate it if our members and friends would become
familiar with them. If you have questions or concerns about any of the
policies, please feel free to send your questions or concerns in writing
to the president, Ann Barefield, and your comments will be shared and
discussed at the next scheduled Board meeting. The policies that are
being presented this month are as follows: Fifth Sunday Policy,
Gift/Memorial Policy and Sexual Harassment Policy.
FIFTH SUNDAY POLICY
1) The Social Justice Committee shall select by consensus a worthy
charitable cause to donate the fifth Sunday cash and designated
checks to. All undesignated checks shall be treated as a regular
offering.
2) A written announcement shall be included in the UNI-VERSE and the
weekly bulletin which shall inform congregation members and friends
that all cash and designated checks collected on the Fifth Sunday will
be donated to the selected Charity. The content of this notice shall be
the responsibility of the social justice chair. A brief description of the
selected charity shall be included.
3) The service leader shall make an announcement before the Fifth
Sunday collection which shall include the information which had been
included in the UNI-VERSE and the weekly bulletin.
4) All cash and designated checks collected on the Fifth Sunday shall
go into the general fund and the Fellowship treasurer shall cut a check
equal to the amount of this collection which shall be sent to the
selected charity. The Social Justice Chair shall compose a cover letter
to be sent along with this check. This cover letter will be submitted to
the board for approval.
GIFT/MEMORIAL POLICY
The UFMC encourages the solicitation and acceptance of gifts to the
Fellowship for purposes that further the Fellowship’s mission. This Gift
Policy applies to all gifts offered to the Fellowship (other than payments
on pledges to the annual operating budget).
The Fellowship may accept both gifts that are unrestricted and gifts
that are designated for specific purposes (“restricted gifts”), provided
that such gifts are consistent with the Fellowship’s mission, purposes
and priorities. All decisions on the acceptance of gifts, both
unrestricted and restricted, will be made by the Gift/Memorial
Committee inn consultation with the Treasurer, and others as deemed
appropriate. All unrestricted gifts, once accepted, immediately become
the property of the Fellowship and are given with the understanding
that the gifts have been donated with no restrictions, including
restrictions on use, sale or disposal. Restricted gifts, once accepted,
will be managed in accordance with the agreed restrictions unless and
until the restrictions are modified or removed.
In deciding whether to accept a gift, the Gift/Memorial Committee will
consider any potential costs associated (including maintenance,
insurance, transport, appraisal, potential liability, costs of disposition
or sale, etc.). The Fellowship may seek the advice of legal counsel in
matters relating to acceptance of gifts when appropriate (such as
closely held stock, restricted stock, transactions governed by
contracts, potential conflicts of interest, etc.)
Marketable Securities:
As a general rule, gifts of marketable securities will be converted to
cash and transferred to the Fellowship’s Treasurer for investment as
quickly as possible.
Personal Property:
In deciding whether to accept gifts of tangible personal property, the
Gift/Memorial Committee will consider the following criteria:
o Is the property consistent with the Society’s mission?
o Are there carrying costs associated with the property?
o Is the property marketable?
o Are there any undue restrictions on the use or sale of the
property?
Real Estate:
In deciding whether to accept gifts of real estate, the Gift/Memorial
Committee may wish to consider the following criteria:
o Is the property useful for the purposes of the Fellowship?
o Are there carrying costs (which may include insurance, property
taxes, mortgages, notes, etc.) associated with the property?
o Is the property marketable?
o Are there any restrictions, reservations, easements or other
limitations associated with the property?
In addition, prior to acceptance of a gift of real estate, the Fellowship
may require an environmental review. When appropriate, a title binder
may also be obtained by the Fellowship prior to the acceptance of the
real property gift.
All gifts will be promptly acknowledged in writing on behalf of the
Fellowship by the Chairperson of the Gift/Memorial Committee and or
the Minister. The Treasurer of the Fellowship will be responsible for
providing donors with receipts sufficient to satisfy IRS requirements.
The receipt may include a description of the property, but each donor
will be expected to rely upon his or her own professional counsel
concerning valuation, tax and estate planning implications of gifts and
representatives of the Fellowship should refrain from advising donors
on these issues.
Exceptions to this Gift Acceptance Policy should be rare and require
the approval of the Gigt/Memorial Committee, acting in consultation
with the Board of Trustees and others as deemed appropriate.
Gift/Memorial Policy changes are made by the Gift/Memorial Committee
submitting recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Purpose Statement:
We believe that:
• The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Marion County (UUFMC)
should be a safe and welcoming environment that respects the human
dignity of all who attend.
• All who attend or are employed by UUFMC have a right to
participate in an environment that is free of discrimination, which
includes freedom from sexual harassment.
• The adoption of a sexual harassment policy provides a means for
dealing with harassment experienced within the church community.
• The best resolution of any situation will both stop the unwanted
behavior and
allow all parties to still feel comfortable within the church.
• We understand that harassment is not always intentional, but may
in fact arise through miscommunication or lack of awareness.
Regardless, we believe this is a serious issue that our congregation can
best face by adoption of the following policies.
Underlying Principles and Assumptions
• Sexual harassment is unacceptable within the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Marion County.
• Sexual harassment is not the fault of the victim.
• People who have been harassed need support, empowerment, and
a structure within which to respond effectively and safely.
Definitions of Sexual Harassment:
• Sexual harassment includes unsolicited and unwelcome conduct
that has sexual overtones. This includes but is not limited to:
o physical conduct: such as touching, pinching, brushing against
another’s body, impeding or blocking movement, assault, coercing
sexual intercourse.
o verbal conduct: such as sexually suggestive or obscene
comments, threats, slurs, epithets, jokes about gender-specific traits,
sexual propositions.
o written conduct: such as sexually suggestive or obscene letters,
notes, invitations.
o visual conduct: such as gesturing, displaying sexually suggestive
objects or pictures, cartoons, posters or magazines.
• Sexual harassment must be understood as an exploitation of the
various relationships that exist within the church community (for
example: minister/congregant, adult/child, amongst peers) rather than
as an exclusively
sexual issue.
• Sexual harassment has both males and females as its victims and
perpetrators. All who attend or are employed by UUFMC should be free
from harassment by members of the opposite sex or of the same sex.
• Procedures for addressing all incidents (or suspected incidents)
of sexual harassment are outlined in the Procedures Manual.
Gift / Memorial Committee
Our Gift/Memorial Policy has been written according to guidelines
recommended by the Unitarian Universalist Association. In keeping
with this newly approved policy, we would like to make our members
and friends aware of some gift-giving opportunities to enhance our new
UU home. Some considerations are the following: sanctuary
furnishings; landscaping and other exterior decorating such as
benches, sculpture, plantings; kitchen fixtures and furnishings; works
of art throughout the building; office equipment; music fund. If you
have questions or are interested in contributing towards the purchase
of any of our needed items, please contact the committee co-chairs
who will then also involve the appropriate committees, i.e. landscape,
kitchen, music, etc.
Mary Ann Donato 751-7543 Fran Marciano 430-3109
Forum
The "Forum" which meets at 9:00 prior to the Sunday service is always
looking for good ideas for presentations. The purpose of the Forum is
to provide our members and friends with information on a particular
topic. More importantly it is to provide an opportunity for us to interact
with each other and thereby broaden our knowledge of a whole host of
topics. If you have a particular slant on something that you would be
willing to present please let Jim or Millie Mitchell or me, Jim McIntosh,
know about it. It you know of someone with such a topic that would be
able to present, let us know that to. If you have a topic that you think
would be important to discuss don't keep it to yourself. We’re looking
forward to hearing from you.
Jim McIntosh
Pledge and Donation Reports – Jim McIntosh
Members and Friends:
On Sunday the Fellowship will be providing fiscal year ending (Apr 1 to
Mar 30) pledge and donation reports this Sunday, April 27th . The
actual data will include business through April 16. With the exception
of a few new pledges that were received after the report was printed, all
fiscal 08 - 09 pledges are shown. An explanation of the report format
will be included. Please take a moment to pick up you report and check
it against your records for accuracy.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the
material.
Jim McIntosh, Treasurer UUFMC
Planning Ahead
Many Unitarian Universalist groups have an annual Water
Service/Ceremony. This can be a meaningful experience for members,
friends, guests and visitors. We are planning a Water Service at UUFMC
in October. Your participation is welcome and necessary if our service
is to be meaningful. All you need, to do, is to collect a small amount of
water from a stream, pond, lake, river, fountain, or other place that has
meaning to you. Since many of us travel in the summer it is a good
time to collect the water. Keep the water until we have the service; you
will be reminded to bring your water. Remember collect water from
your travels this summer and hold on to it until we announce the Water
Service this fall. Thank-you and have a great summer!
Memorial Concert & Reception
Members and friends are invited to the Memorial Concert for Bob
Barefield, May 25th 3:00PM with a reception immediately following the
concert. If you would like to assist with the reception please look for
the sign up board. Questions contact Allie Gore 861-4564 or
indigo8062@earthink.net.
Invitation to Speak
Dear Members and Friends,
The Sunday Service/Program Committee would like to invite you to
speak to our congregation during an open Sunday in June or July.
Look for the sign up board and place your name on the date you would
like to speak. Within one week of signing the board please email or
snail mail your topic and provide a synopsis of your presentation to any
member of the committee Bob Zannelli, Rona Gold, Mary Ann Donato,
Phil Lindsley, Ruth Deussen and Allie Gore.
Please be aware we have no way of knowing the response we will
receive to this invitation. Depending upon the members and friends
interested in speaking, to our congregation, and the scheduled
speakers from outside our Fellowship, we are unable to guarantee your
specific date request.
The following guidelines are provided to help you decide if your topic is
appropriate for the main Sunday service or if it is a Forum topic. The
committee will make the final determination.
Presentations will adhere to our covenant to affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in
our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a
part.
The Sunday service/Program Committee appreciates members and
friends commitment to honor diversity, demonstrate inclusiveness and
respect for each other and other religious beliefs in their presentations.
Thank-you!
UUFMC Directory Update – Barbara Schuster
Dear Members and Friends,
In order to keep the directory up to date, please take the time to e-mail
me with any changes in your Directory information. If you prefer, please
bring a written copy of your Directory information to the fellowship on
Sunday, or call me at 353-390-3822.
Thank you, Barbara
Bob Zannelli invites all our Members and Friends to join him for
Evolving Humanism: An Agenda for the Future
When: Friday evening, May 9 – through Sunday, May11, 2008
Where: Sarasota Hotel and Marina
This will be your opportunity to connect with other Humanists groups
throughout Florida to make friendships, exchange ideas, talk about
issues and make a difference.
Humanists of Florida (HFA) will be unveiling plans for a proposed
Florida think tank project named Evolving the Future: Toward a Science
of Cultural Change. The think tank will be dedicated to applying
evolutionary theory to how we think about and analyze education, law,
business, political science, economics, management, anthropology and
the social sciences
Cruise News
Your Building Fund needs YOU to sign up for our 10 day January 18th
relaxing, enjoyable cruise to intriguing sights to Aruba, Curacao, the
Panama Canal, Costa Rica and a private insland. Our first cruise
brought in $2,450 to the building fund and the second one brought in
$2,850. Let's exceed that amount - your help is critical. Make your
reservation now to be certain you can get the type of cabin you want
because Panama cruises are very popular. Call Anita Noble at AAA,
352-753-2500-Ex. 2259 - your reservation can be handled by phone.
Talk to Pete Jarmer or Rona Gold for more details.
Cares & Concern – Marti Bassette
eotwin@aol.com dolson@aol.com
From Don and Eleanor Olson
Joy to the world.
Hi everyone,
Don and I became great grandparents this morning (April 25) at 4:40
am. Our granddaughter, Melissa, gave birth by C-section to Elias
Carlisle. Both Mom and big boy (8 lbs. 5 oz) are doing well and should
be going home in a couple of days. We're hoping to see them before
we leave Little Rock.
Life is good!
Eleanor
PAUL KORPELA HAD A TUMOR REMOVED WHICH WAS BENIGN.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS. – From Dot O’Hara
I touched Base with Hydle and Ruth Papin. They manage driving OK;
they just don't always have "the go" required to get to Sunday services.
– From Karl D. Scheffer
The Care and Concerns co-chairs need to know about anyone that is ill,
home bound, or hospitalized. For anyone in the Top of the World area
notify Jeanne Collins, 352-291-2925. In The Villages Marti Bassette, 259-
4503.
May - UU & YOU! Carolyn Denison
UU and You Social Evenings will be held at 6 PM Wednesday, May 21st ,
and Thursday, May 22nd in host's homes.
This is an opportunity to get together with church friends and members
to socialize. A sheet will be out to sign up for Wednesday OR Thursday.
You will be notified where your gathering will be held; directions will be
provided. Your responsibility is to bring sandwiches, veggies/salad or
dessert to share; hosts furnish beverages.
Our goals are to keep the groups the size the hostess/host can
accommodate, to keep the groups approximately the same size, and to
have one each month in the Villages and one evening north or west of
there.
If you signed up to attend but find you are unable to keep this
commitment please contact Carolyn, 307-4682, so the necessary
changes can be made. Thanks so much!
Signup sheets will be on the table every Sunday until May 18th .
Separate Tables – Jeanne Collins
We will lunch together on Thursday, May 15th at Olive Garden in Ocala
on Highway 200
3363 SW College Rd
Ocala, FL 34474
352-854-0900 | Website
Call Jeanne Collins for details 352-291-2925.
Please be aware that reservations are made for Separate Tables at a
busy time of day for the restaurants. If you have signed up to attend
but cannot make the luncheon please contact the host or hostess so
the restaurant can be notified. Thank-you for your thoughtfulness.
Separate Tables is a social event where the men and women have lunch
at separate tables. Each group enjoys their own discussions about
topics that are important and/or interesting to them. Separate Tables
was created to draw the Fellowship members together by allowing them
the opportunity to get to know one another better.
Signup sheets will be on the table every Sunday until May 11th.
Singles Club
Book Club
Membership Committee
Are you new to Unitarian Universalism? Do you want to learn more?
Classes will be forming to discuss the history, principles, and traditions
of Unitarian Universalism.
Contact Allie Gore at 861-4564 or Andrea Coburn at 751-6673 is you are
interested in participating.
Social Justice Committee - Bob Zannelli
Fifth Sunday
The Social Justice Committee has selected the Interfaith Emergency
Services as the recipient of the fifth Sunday collection in June. We all
know the need is great in our local area , foreclosures are at a record
high and the building trades and local manufactories are laying off
large numbers of workers. Please give as generously as you can.
In addition, the Social Justice Committee welcomes suggestions as to
worthy recipients for future fifth Sunday collections. Contact any social
justice committee member to make your views known. The members
are: Bob Zannelli, Pete and Ray Jarmer, Andrea Coburn, Mary Ann and
Mike Donato, John Deckman, Rona Gold, Carolyn Denison, and Ann
Barefield.
Christmas Family.
The Social Justice committee, represented by Ann Barefield, continues
to keep in touch with our "adopted" family and will report back to the
social justice committee if they express a need for additional help.
Rebate your rebate to the needy.
Many congregations in the UU are asking members to donate a portion
of the stimulus rebate to a worthy cause. The need is great at the
Interfaith Emergency Services. Donations can be sent to
Interfaith Emergency Services, Inc.
435 NW 2nd Street • Ocala, FL 34475
Music Committee
The choir will be singing just one more time until fall So the
committee, throughout the summer, will be looking for individuals who
would like to sing or play a solo, duet, trio or quartet. Please call Ruth
Prentice @ 307-6620 if you have music or can learn something we
already have.
Chalice Lighters
Our Sunday service chalice lighting and extinguishing is another
opportunity to share something which, like our principles, sets a
positive tone of acceptance, respect and an appreciation for diversity.
The program committee extends an invitation to members and friends
to participate in this part of the service. Sign up for a specific Sunday
date. Your responsibility is to light the chalice and present a reading
and extinguish the chalice and help close the service with another
reading. Please see the Chalice Lighters signup sheet, on the info table,
any Sunday. Thank you.
Coffee Committee
Message to all Coffee Committee volunteers, if the date you’re
scheduled is not convenient for you, please switch with another
member. Thank you for all you do. You're terrific!
We're down to 7 members for one reason or another. If you know
anyone who might be interested in joining our esteem team, let me or
Carole know. Fran 430-3109
Carole Clarke
Carole Clarke grew up in Massachusetts and spent her adult life in
Washington, DC. Her son and daughter-in-law live in Seattle. She has
been widowed for 11 years.
Living in Washington, DC from 1967 was an exciting experience. She
worked on many city political campaigns, starting with the first Home
Rule government. Imagine the excitement in the city in 1974 - the first
opportunity that Washington citizens had to elect their own government
officials. (Of course, there still is no voting representation in Congress.)
Carole was a teacher in the DC Public School system where she taught
hospitalized and homebound children. This work provided many varied
experiences. At various times she taught in every section of the city.
She taught children with minor problems such as a broken leg to those
with more devastating illnesses. She taught in an embassy and in
housing projects. Through it all she had the opportunity to work
intimately with the children and their families. It was a great career.
After retirement Carole spent 2 years in Guatemala with the Peace
Corps. She lived in the mountain area in a Mayan and Latino
Community. Her main assignment here was to work with the teachers
in local schools to develop sanitation projects.
She moved to the Villages in 2005 where she discovered Unitarian
Universalism. It has opened up a new world full of wonderful people
and ideas to her.
Carole is coordinating a program where English is taught to adult
immigrants in the community. Classes meet for 1 ½ hours on the
weekday evenings and also during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
The classes are held on alternating days in Wildwood and Leesburg.
Jean Collins, Rona Gold, Karen Hoch, Diane Jacobsen, Mary Ann and
Mike Donato, Louise and Mark Colussi, and Oscar and Barbara Nair,
fellow Unitarians, are volunteering with the program. There is always a
need for more volunteer teachers or child care helpers. Call Carole to
see how you can be involved in the program.
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund May, 2008
Recently I acquired a little book which explains how and why we
Unitarian Universalists function as we do: The Cambridge Platform,
edited by Peter Hughes. Even though we are different in theology from
other churches we share a common tradition of polity that originated
with The Cambridge Platform. The 1648 signers of this document
established how churches defined membership, chose leaders, came to
decisions, handled dissent, and acted together despite disagreements.
The Platform set forth a non-hierarchical congregational polity which
meant churches would be independent both of outside authority and of
each other. It explained and justified how congregational churches
work. Both Unitarians and Universalists evolved from early New
England churches governed by the Platform.
The framers of the Cambridge Platform continuously referenced the
authority of the Bible which makes it a foundational document for our
UU polity, and other faiths molded by Puritanism. The Puritans had
tried to reform the Church of England in the direction of a more
personally experienced spiritual life. Their experience of being
persecuted and punished persuaded them something had gone awry
and led them to look in the Old and New Testaments where very
different patterns of authority were to be found. The New England
Puritans believed all religious authority to be in the members of each
congregation. The Platform, based on the biblical second
commandment, declared that the substance of the free church is the
spirit of neighborly love.
The authors of the Platform did not see themselves as “separatists”
and insisted the autonomy of free churches did not imply isolation from
other free churches. Churches were to be concerned about other’s
welfare. In the 1600s churches founded by the Puritans engaged in
pulpit exchanges. Lay members sometimes attended services in their
own churches and then, if visiting friends, went to another in the
afternoon. These early Puritan churches sent letters of
recommendation to a congregation in a town to which one of their
members was moving; sometimes they helped with money and/or
officers if need arose; and they assisted in starting new churches.
Even though the framers held Scripture in great reverence they believed
not all that is necessary in the free church is indicated by the bible. In
addition there is a very strong statement on the importance of covenant
made by each member of a church to walk together with other
members, in love. There were some drawbacks in that the framers
assumed a tiered level or privilege and authority in churches was a
natural thing. There is so much more to be learned about our history in
the Cambridge Platform.
Perhaps I have tweaked an interest in learning more about the
Cambridge Platform. The book can be purchased through Skinner
House at www.UUA.org/skinner for those of you who would like to learn
more. I always look forward to hearing from you at jlund@uua.org or
813-931-9727.
